Online auctions of in-game items and characters is one area where MMOGs and real-life intersect, controversially. Players who have invested hundreds, thousands of hours into developing their characters want a chance to recoup their investment. Newbie players or people without enough time to play fully want a chance to leap ahead with bought items. Meanwhile, the game companies want to keep control over the content and economics of their games. Included below are links to articles about game-auction controversies.
more...For a while Sandy Brundage at Gamers.com was the best reporter about online MMORPGs. She knew MUDs backwards and forwards, and she had sources at all the big companies to compare online experiences. Her news stories on EverQuest from 2001 often broke stories that were later carried elsewhere.
One of these is EverQuest Strips the Dark from 'Dark Elf' pasted below. Basically, a violent backstory written by a player for their character, and hosted on a bulletin board elsewhere, caused some in-game censure by Sony.
more...from L.A. Times, September 2, 2002.
Online Bullies Give Grief to Gamers
Internet: Troublemakers play to make their peers cry, driving away customers and profit.
By ALEX PHAM
TIMES STAFF WRITER
A Rape in Cyberspace is one of the oldest and most-frequently cited articles about behavior in online games, social norms and the possibility of virutal atrocities. Lessig mentioned it briefly during dinner - saying, "Do you know Julian?" the author. I don't think I do, but I've definitely seen this article. Time to re-read it maybe! Concerns characters Mr. Bungle, exu and MoonDreamer playing in LambdaMOO.
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